Dossier Submission!!!!!

Just to update everyone, we received our I-171H approval yesterday in the mail. This was pretty much the only thing we were waiting on to submit our Dossier. We received this only a week and 3 days from our fingerprinting appointment... much quicker than I expected! So there are a few things that need to be notarized and finished before submitting. We plan to submit tomorrow!!!!!!!!!! I cannot believe we are finally to this point. I shared this on our FB page, and thought I would on here as well.

Stole this verse from Kari Jobe today...
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

I had a restless night last night, couldnt stop thinking how much closer we are to our baby boy. Once we submit our Dossier (tomorrow) we then will wait for our referral of our child. We've been told this could be 24 months. That's a hard number to wrap your mind around when waiting for your child to be in your arms. I'm holding on to hope today... hope that God's timing is perfect, and that he will get our child here all in the perfect timing. Just crazy how much everything changes when you know the only thing holding you back from your child is no longer paperwork, or homestudies, or money.... but just time. ugh.

T-Shirt Orders!

We will be taking orders for T-Shirts until July 21st!! The cost is $20, or 2 for $35... They only come in the color in the photo at this time. If you would like to order one of these shirts please contact me with your size.

If only for One...

I couldn't help but share today... I recently purchased this necklace in the photo. It was my late birthday present to myself. I have been looking for just the perfect one and finally found it :) Couldn't be happier about it either! I love it!

Back to my story, I wore this necklace today to my Dr's office. I've been sick all week and finally gave in and went. Side note: They have been very supportive! The front desk girls and my nurse from getting our physicals done had purchased our bracelets that we have been making and selling to help with fundraising. Love that they support us :) And were back again: when the Dr came into see me he asked about my necklace, and why I wore it. I told him Daniel and I were adopting from Ethiopia, and his face LIT UP! He smiled and said that he and his wife have done several mission trips to Haiti, and have considered doing more in Africa, and that they have discussed adopting!!!!!!!!!!! So I instantly jump to my orphan advocate pants, and began telling him about our agency and that they recently opened a Haiti program and he should look into. He seemed very interested and asked the name of our agency several times and said he would speak to his wife and they could look further into it!!!! Can I just tell you nothing makes my heart happier. That yes, we are on this journey to our little boy, but just our obedience and sharing our hearts could open the door for more orphans to find families!!!!! That we are making ONE LESS by our adoption, but even if we could help ONE MORE find a home! How great a blessing! So until my dying day I will forever share our story, and continue as we wait to share with people that there are so many more orphans out there, even the least of these can make a difference.
I try to be honest in the financial dept, people think you have to be rich to adopt. You don't!!! There are grants, fundraisers, and help out there you just have to take a big step of obedience and God does the rest! Look at our thermometer that should be all the proof you need! Don't allow fear of the unknown or anything else to hold you back. Take a step of faith! That's all you need!

Our Adoption Photos

 

Thanks so much to Brent Pearcy Photography for doing our photos! www.brentpearcy.com

Today I sit amazed....

Last night I updated our thermometer on the blog. Wow. We have raised $14,717. We are $3,283 away from being to the half way mark!!!! I don't think that really sunk in for awhile. How amazing God is!! He has blown us away with providing our every need!!! And how great a confirmation that we are doing as he has called us!!!

Some of you may know I did a radio interview the other day for our Indian Taco Benefit Dinner in Cushing. As I was there, Molly one of the radio DJs and I were chatting. She had asked if I had always been someone who has had missions on my heart. I of course shared with her that I have been very passionate about missions since High School. She then said a statement that one would think I would have really thought of before "Well God has been leading you towards this for awhile then." This statement is VERY true. I think of my life, all of the events and people in it that have led me to where I am. And yes, he has been leading me here. As I drove the hour back home from Cushing, I thought about this. How God has been leading my entire life to this one decision.
-My heart for missions began when I met an International student in my high school who was from Brazil. We became close friends, and through her sharing much of her life with me... I knew, I wanted to Go!
-I have been friends with several that have been in and out of foster homes, and have been adopted. Friends with a family that adopted 2 children through foster care. Witnessing this changed my life.
-I have always been one who went against the grain, not caring what others thought of me. It didn't bother me to live in such a way that made people uncomfortable. (as in being a Christian, and choosing to do other things such as missions, etc) Lord only knew how much I needed this thick skin for this situation.
-Meeting Daniel. Had I not met him I never would have had the opportunity to meet the Gobbles. Being a part of their adoption opened my eyes to the need! This is what led us to the decision to adopt.

So many things in my life led me here. Some of those weren't the greatest. Such as learning to have thick skin. Much of my life the love for missions and outreach, many haven't understood. "Why???" I was asked this often. Makes it easier knowing it all had a purpose. I did however picture my life much differently. I wasn't planning on getting married, I planned to get my degree, and move off to another country to do mission work. God had another plan for me.

I think back on the day I woke up VERY early in the morning in October, and God speaking to me the verse that continues to push me today "Leave your country and your people... Go to the land I will show you." I really cannot express into words that morning. My small little bedroom was filled with His presence. I laid in tears on my bed praying about his desire for me, and what was my purpose for his kingdom. He led me to that verse. I broke, because I felt stuck. I was like okay, if I am supposed to go and do missions, HOW!!!!???? I just sat and had no idea his plan. Not long after adoption became embedded in my heart. This very morning got me to where I said yes Lord to adoption! This day became my confirmation of what was to come. That verse was my answer, just different than what I had perceived. It wasn't obvious, I had to continue to seek its meaning from him, and here is where he led me.

Ask yourself today, where is he leading you??? What has your past led you in the direction of??? Truly seek that out from him and begin doing as he has called you. Begin working yourself towards his desires for you. You may end up in a very different place than you expected or started in the direction of, but how AMAZING to know you are doing the will of God?

Blessings!

I just wanted to share with everyone the total of our Online Silent Auction that we raised was $1,243!!! Thanks SO MUCH to everyone who donated, and participated in the auction.
We also had a our Indian Taco Dinner at Full Gospel today in Cushing. We raised a total of $800!!!
Thank you to everyone who cooked, cleaned, donated, and ate at our benefit dinner!!!!!

Words cannot express how blessed we are by the people that continue to surround us in this adoption! Words cannot express how much it ALL means to us!

Online Auction is LIVE!!!!!!

Currently we are having an Online Silent Auction Fundraiser June 2 - June 9th. The auction will end at 8pm on the June 9th. If you would like to go and look at our available items please follow this link that will take you directly to our online auction, Online Auction . We have so many great things available, especially if you are an OSU fan :)

As of right now we have raised a little of $630!!! Thank you to all of those who donated, and to those who are out there bidding away!!!